The Gaiety...RIP

[foxy]

This Tuesday, March 17th is not only St. Patrick's Day but more importantly marks the fourth anniversay of the closing of the Gaiety. I'm still sad.

 

I have been reading some of the old reviews. When I read about a "boring" line-up, I groan. What I wouldn't give to see one of those "boring" shows again.

 

I wish I could think of something to mark the occassion. A candle light vigil anyone? Maybe lay a wreath on what used to be the steps of the Gaiety... or hunt down Denise and take her out to lunch...or better yet, one of the dancers? Where have they all gone?

 

If anyone has any Gaiety memories to share, we could do that. Maybe even encourage VDN to post some pictures (hint, hint). I'm getting teary-eyed already.

[Bostonian]

I remember being there on that fateful final night after hearing rumors about the closing. I had my last Gaiety private with a guy named Nate from Atlanta. It was his first trip to NYC. He had an amazing body and was really friendly. I think he danced at Swinging Richards. Wonder if he still does?

 

We came back after and all the dancers were hanging out on the sidewalk talking about making plans because of the closing. It was really sad.

 

So many great memories from the Gaiety, especially that last winter, because I was living in the city, and went a lot. One of the hottest guys I thought was Steven from Montreal, who one of the reviewers correctly pointed out never smiled on stage, but had an incredible body and was so handsome.

 

My favorite though was Doctor Mike. Best body, best looking, best personality, best everything.

 

I also enjoyed meeting Cooper there. A cool guy who was fun to talk about the dancers with.

 

Down in South Florida now but haven't tried the places like Johnny's or Boardwalk yet. I have a feeling it won't be the same. I do want to get to Montreal one day and check out Stock.

 

Definitely miss the G.

[Guest manrent1]

Yes the memories are many and mostly good for me at The Gaiety. It was a one of a kind place that in today's NYC don't think can ever be recreated.

 

I'm happy to report that I'm still in touch and see quite often some of the former dancers including:

 

TJ/Scott Anthony (see him at least every week)

Trevor917 (spends time in both NYC and Canada)

Big Brazilian Ray (still in NYC and as hot as ever)

Big Jeff (spends time in both NYC and Canada)

Tristan (bartender at new Sunday night venue in Hell's Kitchen - still sweet and very nice)

Brett Phillips (lives in Canada but comes to NYC once or twice a year for some fun)

Neo (still hot, still a little strange and living in New Jersey)

Devon - one of the CT contigent who in my book looks like a more muscular version of actor Brendon Frasier (living between CT and South Florida)

 

Have had the pleasure of hanging with all of the above over the past year and they are as hot as ever.

[jackhammer91406]

The posters in this thread have been far more eloquent that I can ever be, but I will never forget my few trips to the G. It's how I met Cooper, Foxy, Lucky, Hijinx and so many others. My first private with the stunning (gay) dancer from Canada, the trips to Stella's. Major high points in my Big Apple visits and so important in helping me find who I am. I can't believe it's 4 years already and yet I look in the mirror and it's a little easier to understand when I see the face looking back.

 

I will always be grateful to Cooper and Lucky for taking me to the G that first time where I had so much fun and met so many great fellow travelers. I still have my shiny red Apple given to me by my New York Hooville hosts, sitting on my bookcase with an artist rendering of Times Square.

[+ g56whiz]

Damn Foxy, I was hopping to delay my annual melancholy until a little closer to the 17th!

 

I live in the city so it was nothing for me to hop on the subway and climb the stairs to enjoy some lust and fantasy when there was nothing worth watching on TV. I remember all of the guys on RentingDads2’s list (but it’s “Trysten” not “Tristan” – I have it in his own handwriting - and the thought of Neo out to pasture in NJ is as odd as he was). B/T/W The bump and grind end to Trysten’s second dance to the tune “Hotel California” is one of the best coup de theatre I’ve seen on any stage in New York. There was Rocha with the skeleton tattoo front and back and his intimidatingly muscular half brother Victor Rocha with the dick of death. There was a Saturday night when they were both in the lineup. In the lounge Victor Rocha discovered I had been with his half brother and suggested that he was better company and that I should hired them both, together, to prove it. I suggested that I would have to consult my cardiologist first. I also recall Peter Latz before he was a BuffBoz and later took himself to Muscle Beach to become the famed traveling escort he now is. Then there was Drako whose muscular body moved with a panther-like grace as he stared into your eyes. I walked into the lounge one night and Drako was talking shop with Simon of Argentina, another titled bodybuilder. My fantasy quota was filled for months. And then there was Simon’s friend Daniel, almost as muscular as his buddy but with silky black hair down almost to his waist. There was a Leo, a short muscular Lebanese out of Toronto who came up to me in the lounge to do nothing more than thank me for applauding his performance. It was after an early evening midweek show. It was his first appearance at the Gaiety and he had really worked on a routine - it showed. He said that most of the patrons at the sparsely attended earlier shows were elderly and no matter how much energy he put into his dancing, most seemed to fall asleep. I remember too a very muscular black guy with a spectacular smile I often saw sitting at the runway tipping generously. Imagine my shock and delight when saw him in a Raging Stallion video being royally plowed by Jake Deckard. He now goes by Jay Black and I’ve seen him appear at several clubs and he is as friendly as that big smile suggested. There was the beautiful muscular Marcello. He approached me in the lounge and I questioned the pronunciation of his name. Explained that what I heard was correct because he was Brazilian. He also suggested, rather accurately, that I would enjoy a private session. When I explained that I was with tour guide for some friends and could not, I got a sweet kiss on the cheek and pleasant wish that it could happen at a later date. That was a Saturday night and I went back to the Gaiety weekly thereafter for months hoping to again run into my sweet Marcello. I never did. And then there was the night I saw Joey Stefano sitting all alone on the lower level of the banquette along the wall of the empty lounge. It’s an unforgettable image of dejection that was magnified by his untimely death soon after.

 

As much as I too mourn the passing of the Gaiety (of blessed memory), I wonder if Craigslist, or MaximumEscorts.com or Manhunt.net might not have eventually done it in any way. Unlike you Coop, I met very few other hunter/patrons at the gaiety. That great pleasure only came at Club 20 where the cocktail lounge type set-up is more conducive to such meetings. And I’m very, very glad that has occurred. I look forward each week to the chance to enjoy your company and that of Ray and Steven and Jack and the other members of our revolving posse. It’s our shared reverie for the ol’ Gaiety that brought us together so long may those memories and our friendships live.

[+ sniper]

TJ was my first private. I think he was new to it too, because he asked me "Do you like girls? You look like you could get girls." It's funny now, but was awkward at the time. He became my favorite. I wish rentingdad would sublet him.

 

Another guy I really liked was Jonathan, French canadian guy. Dark hair that he died blond, think he did the occasional somersault on stage.

[Guest manrent1]

More memories from my Gaiety days.

 

Joey Stefano - who was a beautiful man but so troubled inside. I saw him on a regular basis for about 3 years. Worst (other than his untimely death) was finding him passed out in a booth of an adult theater in the west village early one sunday morning - bringing him back to my apartment and trying best to help him. He left the next day and died about a year later.

 

Big Thomas from Sweden - what a big guy! The sweat that would pour off of that boy when he would dance. Did a private with him and had a connection that lasted for about 2 years - including an arrangement with him living in one of my apartments in NYC in exchange for fun. Last I heard (several years ago) he was in the military stationed in the Middle East, married with 2 kids.

 

Sniper - TJ is still as charming and disarming as ever. And physically probably at his most handsome. Interesting that in all my years of going to The Gaiety I had heard tales on TJ but never met him or saw him dance. We didn't actually meet until about 3 years ago - so while we knew lots of mutual folks from his Gaiety days we'd never actually met. Now three years later - and there's no Subletting in his future! sorry.

[Happy]

I remember the Big Brazillian Ray like it was yesterday. He was always so polite and thanked each patron for a tip. I just loved his beautiful muscled hairy body and of course that nice big uncut piece of meat. I always tipped him 20. One day I worked up the nerve to talk to him in the lounge. He gave me his email and cell number. I regret to this day that I never worked up the nerve to contact him. Hope he is doing well and maybe someday will consider taking on a few clients. By the way if anyone should be in contact with Ray please give him my email art10010 at gmail.com

[+ g56whiz]

You and me both Happy. But then again I also missed the last Carneige Hall recitals of Horoitz and Anna Russell.

[Happy]

Hi g56whiz!

You never know. I know that Ray is still in NY but has been off the table for all but a very few select clients if even that. Things change. Perhaps circumstances will change and Ray might want to ease back into the escort business but without the big Rentboy publicity. Perhaps someone he knows will see this and privide Ray with my email address. Dreams are cheap so I will keep dreaming!

[JT Brooklyn]

Dr Mike

 

Yes Dr. Mike He was mentioned around here for awhile and then dropped off the Conversation List. Is he still Working It

 

Dave Angelo/Gio seems like all have Retired or Moved on...

[+ Italiano]

I will never forget when, during my first visit to NY as a tourist from Italy more than 20 years ago (I was in my 20s...), I also included a visit to Gaiety.

I had been told only it was a men's strip club, I had never been to one in my life and seeing so many gorgeous men naked and hard one after the other was a special exciting shock!

 

It made me a little unconfortable to be close to the stage, so I would sit or stand in the back.

Seeing few patrons standing and walking around in the lounge too, I took it for a place where men also would cruise. I was a bit naive, and didn't realize what really happened!

 

Since then I have been a few times during my sporadic visits to NYC, eventually a friend explained to me about the escorting possibility (duh..), it was somehow a little surprise, I had never hired anyone, so eventually I went back again and hanged in the lounge with the curiosity of finding out by myself.

When I was approached and smiled at by one of the most beautiful big muscular man I had seen in my life until then (no idea who he might have been!), I was too shy to reply "yes!" to his invitation to go to his nearby hotel for some paid fun...

Once I went to Stella's and the same thing happened!

 

When eventually I moved to NYC and among other things I discovered the pleasure of occasional hiring, for some reason I never went back to Gaiety even if that memory and the itch of doing it was always in the back of my mind, but a few years later I found out it had closed forever.

 

One thing was never clear to me: did the "private" happened also there?

If so, where, how and what happened??

 

If someone wants to feed my curiosity, here I am ready!